I will often cut the lilly pad leaves as they will quickly cut off the light to the rest of the tank. Once they start shooting the leaves up they don't stop. In my experience the main plant then tends to become a bit stragly and bare as the leaves stem out. Cutting them off will help the plant grow bushier and look more full/lush. I have several lotuses and have had them for many years with many reproducing on me. My biggest one was in my 75 gallon a dozen years ago. When I pulled it out of the tanks its root system was the entire bottom of the tank, over 4 feet long! I can only imaging how established my lotuses are in my 120 and 125.
here it is in my 125, last week I cut half a dozen leaves off as they were sitting on the top. Once they are partially submerged they change entirely and a lot more leathery and green. They get to be dinner plate size too, very big leaves once exposed.
Here is one in my 120 gallon, sorry about the reflection of my camera/hand. Also if you look to the bottom right of the image, you will see a tiny lotus leaf from a baby plant that has embedded itself in the pogostamen (the spiny leafed plant)
I also have them in my 5 gallon tanks, love the fact that they will grow to the size of the tank as well as the amount of nutrients provided by the tank inhabitants. Sorry the tanks aren't very clear since I leave it natural for infusoria to grow and feed the betas.
